Downloading and installing Altium Designer involves a few steps, including creating an AltiumLive account, downloading the installer, running it, and activating your license. Here's a breakdown:
1. Create an AltiumLive Account (If You Don't Have One)
- Go to the Altium website (https://www.altium.com/).
- If you already have an account, proceed to step 2. If not, you'll need to create one. Look for a "Sign Up" or "Create Account" link, usually in the top right corner.
2. Download the Altium Designer Installer
- Navigate to the Altium Downloads page. This might require logging in with your AltiumLive account. The download page location can vary slightly over time, but a good starting point is the Altium website's support section.
- Locate the latest version of Altium Designer.
- Click the download link to download the installer executable file.
3. Run the Installer
- Once the download is complete, locate the downloaded installer file (it will likely be in your "Downloads" folder).
- Double-click the installer executable file to launch the Altium Designer Installer.
- You may be prompted to allow the app to make changes to your device. Click "Yes."
4. Follow the Installation Wizard
- The Altium Designer Installer wizard will guide you through the installation process.
- License Agreement: Read and accept the license agreement.
- Installation Options: Choose your preferred installation options. You'll typically have the option to select the installation path and choose which components to install. For most users, the default settings are sufficient.
- Installation Process: The installer will now begin copying files and installing Altium Designer on your system. This may take some time.
5. Launch Altium Designer and Sign In
- After the installation is complete, launch Altium Designer from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.
- The first time you launch Altium Designer, you'll be prompted to sign in with your AltiumLive account credentials (the same email and password you used to create your account).
6. Activate Your License
- After signing in, you need to activate your Altium Designer license.
- In Altium Designer, go to the "DXP" menu (usually in the top left corner) and select "My Account."
- Alternatively, you might see a license activation prompt automatically upon launching Altium Designer.
- In the "My Account" window, you should see your available licenses. If you are using Altium's On-Demand licensing, right-click on the Altium Designer product and click "Use". This assigns a license to your user, allowing you to use Altium Designer.
- If you have a standalone license file, you can activate it through the "Add License" or "Activate License" option, usually by browsing to the license file location on your computer.
Now you are ready to use Altium Designer.
